Pilot Life Episodes

This week on the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike cover everything from music icons to major aviation headlines. Tom visits New York, takes in the USS Intrepid Air Museum, and maybe even spots Lady Gaga — but is he really a fan? We break down the WestJet 2276 hard landing in St. Maarten that forced a passenger evacuation and shut down the airport, plus a discussion on jumpseat etiquette following news of the Alaska Airlines pilot who took mushrooms and tried to shut down the engines — n...

In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike kick things off by answering listener hotline questions: What is ETOPS flying? And how do pilots use the Great Circle Route? Plus, an update on the tragic NYC helicopter crash. From there, it’s stories from the road: Mike flies his family for the very first time — only to end up deplaning them after an APU failure 😬. We also cover an unexpected sidewalk emergency in Santa Monica, a flight from LAX to Newark with six horses onboard,...

Even pro travelers make rookie mistakes — Tom forgot to pack underwear. 🧳✈️ Mike won’t let him live it down as the Black Box Aviation Podcast takes off with stories from the road. This episode dives into the world of fuel dumping: why airlines do it, FAA rules, and what happened when Delta Flight 89 dumped thousands of gallons over Los Angeles, showering neighborhoods and schools below. Tom and Mike share their own experiences with emergency fuel dumps in the P-3 and MD-11, breaking down the ...

Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast with Tom & Mike — where we talk about aviation, travel, and the things you NEED (and want) to know about flying. In this episode, we cover it all: 🌪️ Landing in San Juan with Hurricane Erin on the radar 🚨 A Southwest pilot arrested for DUI on the jetbridge 🌴 Hawaiian adventures — snorkeling with manta rays, golfing on lava fields, and the quirks of “island time” ✈️ Plus: lounge drama, tipping debates, and the sweaty palms of an MD-11 landing at S...

Ever had a lounge showdown over a dirty glass? Tom shares a hilarious (and slightly awkward) encounter at an airport lounge that you won’t believe. We also talk about pilot coffee obsessions, hotel breakfast rip-offs, and a flap/slat disagreement at cruise altitude—plus what really happens when a heavy MD-11 takes off from Anchorage. Mike brings us along for his family trip to Boston, including Fenway Park magic, the Freedom Trail, and why hotel breakfasts are the biggest rip-off in aviation ...

Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast! In this episode, Tom & Mike take you inside the cockpit to discuss layover fatigue, crazy stories from the road, and the latest aviation headlines you NEED to know about. ✈️ Topics We Cover: ✅ Layover Fatigue Reality Check: Why fatigue is more dangerous than you think OAK to ANC trip chaos and why timing matters Navy SEAL breathing tips for staying sharp ✅ Stories from the Road: Midnight street fight in NYC outside the cra...

Buckle up for an Episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast as Tom & Mike take you behind the cockpit door for an action-packed discussion on the latest in aviation. ✈️ Main Topics: ✅ GPS Jamming & Aviation Safety – How modern warfare tech is now disrupting civilian aviation and what pilots do when GPS fails. ✅ Air Rage Epidemic – Why unruly passenger incidents are skyrocketing, shocking stories from real flights (including a Halloween flight gone completely off the rails), and the jaw-droppin...

What really happens after the jet parks at the gate? In Episode 29 of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, we bring back the “Day in the Life” series — but this time we go beyond the cockpit and deep into hotel layovers, crew routines, unexpected travel perks (like free bacon!), and the realities of life on the road as an airline pilot. Tom & Mike open up about: ✈️ Navigating FAA Part 117 rest rules 🥓 Free bacon and late-night pizza 🏊 Swimming laps at Ala Moana in Hawaii 🏁 NASCAR’s ARCA Menards Se...

Welcome to another episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, where we talk all things aviation, flying, travel — and the occasional wild conspiracy. Your hosts Tom & Mike are back with stories from the road, industry news, and an unsolved mystery from aviation history. Here’s what we dive into this week: 🇺🇸 4th of July in the Airline World — Why holiday pay isn’t always guaranteed, contract frustrations, and how the system should work. ✈️ Stories from the Flight Deck — From Memphis to Anchor...

Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast with your hosts Tom & Mike, where we dive into all things aviation, travel, and the stories that come with life in the skies. This week we kick things off with our review of the Netflix documentary “Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds” — our takeaways, the behind-the-scenes reality of these elite aviators, and how this film stacks up to the Blue Angels docs we've seen before. Spoiler alert: the “ThunderChickens” nickname made the cut, and yes, we laugh...

Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast with Tom & Mike — where we break down the latest in aviation, travel, and everything you need to know about life in the skies. This episode is a full plate! We start with the Hot Topic — the Air India incident — and we’re currently working to bring in a safety expert to go even further. We also dissect a JetBlue A220 landing incident at BOS in strong crosswinds, a dramatic heavy landing we recently had ourselves, and a few stories from our time o...

Welcome back to The Black Box Aviation Podcast, where Tom & Mike take you through everything from fighter jet flight plans to sushi near train stations in Tokyo. In this episode, we kick things off with Navy sweatshirts and golf tournaments, touch on Greta Thunberg’s headline-making arrest, and revisit the mystery of D.B. Cooper. Listener Bentley (not the car, but close!) asks how pilots really get weather updates—prompting a full breakdown of flight planning in the digital age, the old-schoo...

Tom’s back from a monster trip across the globe, and he’s got stories to prove it—Shanghai customs chaos, underground Rolex deals with a scooter locker twist, executive lounge mochi mishaps, and a VIP connection in the infamous Fake Market. Plus, Mike teases an upcoming guest who’ll give us the controller’s-eye view of air traffic misunderstandings (and BBQ complaints). We answer listener Jameson’s question about the current status of the DC-10 in commercial service and spotlight ORBIS, the f...

In this weeks episode, we’re globe-trotting and diving deep! This week’s episode is packed with travel tales, listener scenarios, and the latest in aviation headlines. Buckle up—it’s a wild ride across continents and cruising altitudes. ✈️ Captain's Log: Asia Edition Your host is heading off on a massive trip across Asia and shares how curiosity, ambition—and a little fatigue—can make or break your layover adventures. Hear about past escapades including: 🕰️ The infamous fake Rolex deal in Hon...

This week on The Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom is back from training with a flight bag full of stories. From shooting RNP .2 approaches to trying out the tricky Newark Stadium Visual Runway 29, it was anything but routine. After delays in Newark reroute his trip, Tom finds himself sprinting through DTW, dealing with valet bag failures, and navigating late-night hotel decisions—at a place that may or may not have had a dead flight attendant. We break down the chaos at Newark Liberty Airport,...

In this episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, we’re hitting turbulence from every angle—literally and figuratively. Broadcasting from a hotel room I paid for myself thanks to a contract that still doesn’t include training accommodations (because we’re "in base" 🙄), I dive into two stories that prove aviation never takes a day off. First, I recap a Delta flight that was hotter than the surface of the sun thanks to a deferred climate control MEL. Add in Alabama Slammers, five lav runs, and...

Buckle up for a hilarious and unforgettable ride in this week's episode of the BlackBox Aviation Podcast! We kick off answering a fantastic listener question from our text line about how high school students can best prepare for aviation careers, including the difference between Part 61 and Part 141 flight schools, discovery flights, and early steps toward a pilot license. Mike trained in both of these types of training. Whether you're just starting or guiding someone who dreams of flying, th...

This week on The BlackBox Aviation Podcast, we’re diving headfirst into the chaos, comedy, and close calls of spring break air travel—aviator style. I share stories from the road (and sky), including the saga of dragging golf clubs through JetBlue's SRQ route, how a sentimental pocket knife survived post-9/11 TSA... until it didn’t, and why TSA always finds my sunscreen but misses the good stuff. Plus, we nerd out at the legendary Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, where volcano warnings double...

Buckle up—it’s another wild ride in the jumpseat! This week on the BlackBox Aviation Podcast, we swap crazy cockpit stories, including a go-around that left more than just the passengers a little queasy (yes, a dog barfed). We also break down a walking red flag of a captain that had us all doing double-takes. On the industry side, we dive into big moves in the regional world: the surprise Mesa-Republic merger announcement and what it could mean for pilots and passengers alike. Plus, what’s ne...

In this episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, we're joined by a special guest who started his aviation journey as a P-3 sensor operator in the military, worked his way up through the ranks, and is now a major airline captain and airline interviewer. But before the stripes and interviews, the three of us were just broke pilots sharing a crashpad at the infamous Clarion Hotel in Detroit. We share hilarious crashpad memories, including how the hotel's "free" breakfast became a lifeline—beca...

Ever dreamed of becoming a pilot? In this episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, we break down the path to the cockpit—what it takes to earn your wings and the challenges along the way. We also dive into a pilot’s worst nightmare: what actually happens when a door opens mid-flight? Plus, the ins and outs of jumpseating as a commuting pilot, and the ultimate debate—is it McDonald's or Mac Donald’s? Tune in for aviation insights, pilot stories, and some unexpected turbulence in the fast-food w...

In this episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, we dive into recent airline incidents, including multiple go-arounds and the near-miss involving a Southwest Airlines flight in Chicago. What causes these tense moments in aviation, and how do pilots handle them? Plus, we answer a listener’s question about the path to becoming a pilot—training, costs, and career expectations. Ever wondered how pilots get to their hotels and what kind of accommodations they expect? We break down the behind-the-sc...

Episode Description: In this episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, Mike and Tom reunite after three years apart, sharing stories from the skies and the terminals. The episode kicks off with how their paths finally crossed again on one of Mike’s trips before diving into some unforgettable experiences on the road. Tom recounts a chaotic airport scene where passengers erupted in frustration after missing a connection, while Mike shares the eerie experience of flying through St. Elmo’s Fire....

What do pilots do in cruise flight? Have either one of us ever seen a UFO? What if we have to use the restroom? These are the questions we answer in our latest episode. We also share some pretty hilarious stories and memories. Don't forget to comment and let us know what you'd like for us to touch on or talk about next. Email: theblackbox01@yahoo.com Instagram: the_black_box01 X: @the_black_box01